It’s tough to write this review right now. At this moment I am struggling with this review. I just finished playing ‘The Stanley Parable’. Or maybe I didn’t. I possibly didn’t. I probably didn’t In fact, I’m not sure I even know if I just played ‘The Stanley Parable’.

I guess I can sum up ‘The Stanley Parable’ in eight sentences. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS. ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS ONLY WHAT ‘THE STANLEY PARABLE’ IS.

You might now be saying to yourself, I still know nothing of what this game brings to my proverbial table. My answer would simply be that it could “care less about your table except in the context of it’s literary message to poor Stanley’s mundane life.” But Stanley is happy, so… I still don’t know what I’m saying.

[youtube http://youtu.be/xFd0nd82yrM]

Okay, I took a break. I’m back. I made coffee and read Kafka. Let’s do this.

I really enjoyed ‘The Stanley Parable’. It feels like a substantial game release to me. The game is yet another movement in the “games as an experience” model and will be grouped with ‘Proteus’ and ‘Dear Esther’ model, but ‘The Stanley Parable’ is an entirely different monster. ‘Proteus’ and ‘Dear Esther’ sort of happen to you. ‘The Stanley Parable’ happens because of you. You are the storyteller mechanized by a storyteller. Your decisions will matter and have consequence.

I don’t want to say too much or hardly anything at all about ‘The Stanley Parable’ beyond vague explanations and broad explanations for my enjoyment, because the not knowing and understanding are pivotal parts of the whole message of ‘The Stanley Parable’.

Final Opinion: I really didn’t know how to write this review, and I think that’s a great explanation for why I speak so highly of this adventure game. It breaks so many conventions and chuckles at video games so often that it in a way makes for one of the better gaming experiences I have had in years. I’m not a man of maxims and I do not say that lightly. For people who love games as a medium for artistic expression and storytelling, ‘The Stanley Parable’ is in the realm of must play material. It’s an academic marvel and a masterpiece.